I thought this was an interesting article about the best and worst rated cities to visit during the summer:

Looking at the results of Travel + Leisure’s annual America’s Favorite Cities survey, we found that the recipe [for a good destination] is simple:

Good weather: It’s no surprise that some of the hottest cities in the summer ranked the lowest.

Family-friendliness: With the kids home June through August, cities with offerings for the whole clan fared best.

Great parks and easy access to the outdoors: Out of the 10 cities voted the best for summer travel, 8 also landed in the Top 10 for parks.

Fantastic farmers’ markets: Simple pleasures make a difference; great local produce and purveyors helped sway opinions.

Not surprisingly, Seattle is #3 on the list, while Portland is #1. Both have excellent park systems, great weather, and lots of farmer's markets. Rounding out the top 5 are Denver at #2, San Diego at #4, and Minneapolis/St Paul at #5.

Here's the top 5 on the list of worst cities to visit in the summer:

1. Phoenix/Scottsdale
2. Dallas/Fort Worth
3. Atlanta
4. Houston
5. New Orleans

The bad thing about these cities is that the weather is just sweltering in the summer and there isn't much in the way of outdoor activities for families.